Ever wish you could go on a No Reservations-style food tour of a new city? In Hollywood’s Thai Town, it’s possible. Jet Tila—celebrity chef, battler on Iron Chef America, restaurateur, radio show host, and the guy who led Anthony Bourdain on an enviable Thai culinary odyssey—now leads locals and visitors on his “Flavors of Thai Town Food Tour.” The seven-stop, nearly three-hour food and culture trek follows the exact itinerary Tila formerly reserved for visiting chefs and journalists.

The Thai Town enclaves—there's one in L.A., another in Sydney, Australia—are some of the best places to find authentic (and might I add, delicious) Thai food outside of Thailand. The neighborhood is a must for food-and-culture-seeking travelers, but even native Angelenos are daunted by the endless array of eateries that line Thai Town’s five-block stretch. Tome-like menus that list hundreds (and hundreds) of dishes don’t help either. Tila, whose parents opened the first Thai restaurant and grocery store in Los Angeles, demystifies all that by sharing his favorite hangouts and dishes along with lessons on utensil use (hint: chopsticks are only appropriate for noodle eating), proper greeting etiquette, and insider secrets to having the best possible Thai restaurant experience.

Here are the Thai Town Tour’s best sites and bites:

All photos by Valentina Silva.

1. Papaya salad. The papaya salad from Ruen Pair is “the best in the western United States,” said Tila. Palm sugar is part of what makes this salad—composed of green beans, tomato, dried shrimp, and lime juice—so special. 5257 Hollywood Blvd; 323-466-0153

**2. Pork jerky. **Ruen Pair’s deep-fried marinated pork served with a special hot yum sauce allowed Tila to demonstrate the proper way to use sticky rice: Roll a small piece into a ball, flatten it out, and use it to pick up morsels of food sans fork.

**3. Jade noodles. **Sapp Coffee Shop’s jade noodles get their green tint from spinach. The dry (no soup) noodle dish is served at room temperature and includes a hearty mix of barbecue pork, crabmeat, and roast duck. Tila recommended adding a squeeze of citrus and making sure all the ingredients are well combined before taking that first bite. 5183 Hollywood Blvd; 323-665-1035